Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Weeping family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the security issues affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the country.
